sfsocialists

A campaign against Muslims
By LEE SUSTAR
http://www.isreview.org/issues/46/campaign.shtml

THE CONTROVERSY over a Danish newspaper’s publication of caricatures of Muhammad is the result of an anti-Muslim campaign by the West that justifies everything from Washington’s imperialist “long war” against “terrorism” to vicious crackdowns on immigrants across Europe and the United States.

Moreover, the crisis highlights the failure of the antiwar movement in the U.S. to defend the civil rights of Arabs and Muslims—the contemporary equivalent of the “red scares” used historically in the U.S. to criminalize dissent. The unwillingness to meet this challenge threatens to undermine the movement at a time when the White House is moving to ideologically retrofit the occupation of Iraq as part of the global war on terror—which may soon include both a military strike against Iran and sanctions on the Islamist Hamas party in the Palestinian Authority. ( Read more... )

Once You've Sanctioned Torture, Anything Else is Possible
Racism Thrives
By SHARON SMITH

Those who worry that the world's Arab and Muslim populations pose a threat to free speech in Western democracies need not fear. The first Amendment remains intact-particularly, it seems, when it comes to the "right" to inflict racial slurs. Indeed, the last few weeks have witnessed a spate of pundits and politicians exercising their right to freely engage in racist demagoguery against Arabs and Muslims without repercussion.

Celebrity hatemonger Ann Coulter did not disappoint the rabid crowd at the annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C. last month. The highlight of Coulter's address, sandwiched between speeches by Dick Cheney, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Newt Gingrich, was, "I think our motto should be post-9-11, 'raghead talks tough, raghead faces consequences.'" Journalist Max Blumenthal remarked, "This declaration prompted a boisterous ovation" from the overflow crowd. ( Read more... )

David Horowitz:
Portrait of a witch-hunter
February 24, 2006 | Pages 8 and 9

http://www.socialistworker.org/2006-1/577/577_08_Horowitz.shtml

“COMING TO a Campus Near You: Terrorists, racists, and communists--you know them as The Professors.”

The lurid opening line on the inside cover of David Horowitz’s new book, The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America, sounds like the tag line to a bad Hollywood spoof. The publicity-hungry Horowitz tried to push book sales by spewing hot air on Fox News’ Hannity & Colmes for a full week.

Unfortunately, Horowitz’s new witch-hunt against the left is no joke. In the last two decades, this right-winger has dabbled in everything from support for the murderous right-wing contra army in Nicaragua, to pushing legislation to dismantle affirmative action, to waging an all-out assault on the right of progressive voices to be heard on college campuses. ( Read more... )

Socialists at SF State
by Christy Ercolino, staff writer
February 3, 2006 11:16 AM
http://xpress.sfsu.edu/archives/breaking/005187.html

Mostly boos and hisses filled the crowded room in response to a student
saying that 2005 began with the reelection of President George Bush.

“We need to not give up power, we need to put up a fight,” said Alex
Schmaus, 21, a member of the International Socialist Organization (ISO) at
SF State. “Do we still have hope?”

Schmaus was part of nearly 40 students who attended the ISO's first meeting
of the semester Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Rosa Parks Room A, which is
located at the lower level of the Cesar Chavez Student Center.

The group discussed hot topics such as the war in Iraq, abortion and
capitalism. ( Read more... )

Feinstein may encounter Green challenge in'06
San Francisco activist Todd Chretien hopes to make Senate race a referendum on war in Iraq
Oakland Tribune article
FROM STAFF REPORTS
http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_3283275


A co-author of San Francisco's successful ballot measure opposing military recruiters on public high schools and college campuses has announced he might run as a Green Party candidate against U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Activist Todd Chretien, 36, of San Francisco has formed an exploratory committee and expects to announce a final decision in the next 10 days. In a news release, Chretien said he wants to make the election a referendum on the war in Iraq, forcing Feinstein to come to grips with polls showing a majority of California voters oppose the war. ( Read more... )

Interview with Stan Tookie Williams
Speaking out from death row
December 2, 2005 | Pages 6 and 7
Socialist Worker

PHIL GASPER is a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame de Namur University in California, a member of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty and one of the leading spokespeople in the campaign to win clemency for Stan. On the day after Thanksgiving, Phil interviewed Stan by phone from his specially secured “death-watch” cell in San Quentin.


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

SOME PROSECUTORS, police and prison officials have been trying to discredit you by saying that you are still an active gang member. What’s your response?
IT’S QUITE a spurious allegation that these people are putting out. The fact of the matter is that I have a report from the San Quentin Institutional Classification Committee from 2004, which quotes a lieutenant saying that he hadn’t observed anything that was gang-related about me for the past 10 years. It also commended me for 10 years of a positive program.

So it’s quite contradictory for a San Quentin spokesperson--or anyone else, for that matter--to state that I’m still involved in gang activity, when that same person’s superiors say I’ve been programming positively for over 10 years.( Read more... )

The struggle spreads...
Standing up for Tookie!
By Eric Ruder | November 18, 2005
Socialist Worker

THE STATE of California is racing to execute Stan Tookie Williams, its most famous death row prisoner. And in response, people from all walks of life--Hollywood stars, anti-death penalty activists, former gang members, educators and more--are now racing to save his life.

On October 24, a California court fast-tracked Stan’s execution after the U.S. Supreme Court refused his final appeal. He was given a December 13 execution date--ahead of two other death row prisoners whose last appeals had already been turned down.
( Read more... )

The California Green Party’s Perfect Storm: A Million Votes for Peace in 2006
Todd Chretien
11/19/05

[THIS ESSAY IS INTENDED AS A DISCUSSION PIECE FOR MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA GREEN PARTY AND ANTI-WAR ALLIES. PLEASE FORWARD IT TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT LIKE TO READ IT AND FEEL FREE TO SEND ANY INPUT TO:
ToddChretien@comcast.net]

A perfect storm is converging for the Green Party in the 2006 Senate race against Dianne Feinstein. Her unyielding support for Bush’s war in Iraq has deeply alienated her from millions of Californians who want peace. Her vote in favor of the Patriot Act has angered the Arab and Muslim communities and frightened everyone who cherishes civil liberties. Now is the time for the Green Party to strike. We need to show that we are capable of challenging one of America’s most important pro-war politicians and demonstrate why the Green Party should be the electoral expression of the peace movement. We need to win A Million Votes for Peace in California in 2006.

Is it possible?
( Read more... )

Colombia: Campesinos Attacked by Military
Paramilitaries Continue to be a Key Arm of the Colombian Government.
November 2, 2005 -- by Pablo Serrano

North-Eastern Antioquia. “Here in the region we are living the severe violence of the military and the paramilitaries,” stated a campesino* who did not wish to give his name. He continued, “At the moment we are being harassed by the military battalion ‘Demolisher Platoon No.1, Battalion Calibio of the 14th Brigade’, which is under the command of Sergeants Setina and Blanquiceth. The Battalion presents themselves as official military and then the next minute they change their armband and are the paramilitaries. Lately they have been detaining, intimidating, torturing, and assassinating local campesinos and community leaders. ”

On August 7th, 2005 the same Battalion Calibio assassinated a known community leader, Luis Sigifredo Castaño. A member of the community remembers him, “He was a kind man. We had known him for over 15 years. He was part of CAHUCOPANA, a new campesino human rights organization. Sigifredo was not an insurgent as the military accused.” Denouncements made by a local campesino association, the ACVC, stated that, “[Sigifredo] was found dressed in camouflage, even though everyone in the region knew he was a campesino and was disabled.”( Read more... )

Student antiwar activists chart way forward
By Michael Smith | October 28, 2005
Socialist Worker http://www.socialistworker.org

BERKELEY, Calif.--More than 650 college and high school students, parents and community activists from across the country participated in this past weekend’s On the Frontlines counter-recruitment conference at the University of California-Berkeley.

Cosponsored by the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) and Military Out of Our Schools-Bay Area, the conference reflected both the recent reawakening of the antiwar movement and the increased role of counter-recruitment in that movement.

The conference brought together community organizers with years of experience in educating youth about alternatives to military service; CAN activists at the heart of the counter-recruitment movement on college campuses nationwide; and high school students interested in getting involved in or starting counter-recruitment activities on their campuses. ( Read more... )

About 200 students at San Francisco State University rallied yesterday to protest military recruitment on our campus. The protest was organized by a coalition of student organizations including Students Against War, MechA, the General Union of Palestinian Students, the College Democrats, VOX (Voices for Sexual Freedom), The International Socialist Organization, and Speak Out.

Speakers spoke about the complicity of the administration in the war and its support of the military, about the tradition of student power and protest on our campus, about the racism that permeates american policy from targeted recruitment of minorities to the practices of the IMF and WTO, among many other things. Aimee Alison of the Oakland Green Party spoke about her experience being recruited, and a current active duty soldier under the condition of anonimity spoke about his opposition to the war. Due to the unfortunate coincidence of the death of the 2,000 soldier in Iraq, Cindy Sheehan was unable to attend as she was in Washington DC.

The rally was held without amplified sound in Malcolm X plaza due to the rules of the university which specify amplified sound is only allowed in the plaza (which is our free speech zone) only between 12 and 2.

The event was covered by the press. View local fox news coverage here

The recruiters were not on campus due to the coordination of the administration with the Marines. The recruiters are expected instead today. Students plan to attend the job fair and form a line to ask questions and occupy the recruiters time. Our administaration has obviously gone on the defensive due to the actions of students last semester and the actions of students across the country.


-Kristin Anderson

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 24

SFSU STUDENTS PROTEST MILITARY RECRUITERS ON CAMPUS
Cindy Sheehan flies to White House to protest 2000th US Fatality in Iraq

Contacts: Lacy MacAuley and Michael Hoffman
What: Rally, Press conference, opposing campus recruiters
When: Wednesday, October 26, 10:30 AM
Where: SFSU Campus, Malcolm X Plaza (center of campus)

The expected 2000th US fatality in Iraq will be marked by hundreds of protests around the country, including Cindy Sheehan going directly to the White House to demand a meeting with President Bush. In San Francisco, the major protest will take place at San Francisco State University (SFSU) as students and community members protest both the presence of Marine recruiters on campus and the death of the 2000th US soldier.

Students and protesters will rally at San Francisco State University(SFSU)10:30 AM this Wednesday to oppose any military recruiters who dare to come onto campus. Matt Gonzalez of the Green Party, Aimee Allison, a conscientious objector in the first Gulf War and currently on the steering committee of the College Not Combat-Yes on Prop I campaign, Sharon Adams of the National Lawyers Guild, and others will be speaking against the presence of military recruiters at the campus job fair and against the brutal
war in Iraq which has killed over 100,000 Iraqi Civilians and now 2,000 US soldiers. Cindy Sheehan of Gold Star Families for Peace, grieving mother of a fallen US soldier who camped out outside Bush's ranch in Crawford,lends her support to SFSU students as she travels to Washington DC. ( Read more... )

California Prepares to Execute Tookie Williams
Countdown to a Legal Lynching
www.counterpunch.org
By PHIL GASPER

On the morning of October 11, the US Supreme Court declared that it will not hear the case of Stanley Tookie Williams, the most famous inmate on San Quentin's death row.

Last February, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals turned down Stan's request for a new hearing by a vote of 15 to 9. But the minority issued a blistering dissent, condemning the "blatant, race-based jury selection" in Williams' original trial.

Williams appeal reached the Supreme Court in May, where it has been sitting ever since. A decision was originally expected last week, but the court delayed, reportedly to allow its new Chief Justice an opportunity to weigh in on the case. Now it has spoken in no uncertain terms.

Welcome to the racist Roberts' court. ( Read more... )

ON THE FRONTLINES
National Counter-Recruitment Conference

October 22-23
University of California, Berkeley
Co-sponsored by the
Campus Antiwar Network and
Military Out of Our Schools—Bay Area
that will bring together:


College Students
Youth
Parents & Educators
Community Activists & Organizers
Vets & Military Families
Featuring:
* Pablo Paredes--conscientious objector from the Iraq war
* Aidan Delgado--Iraq War Vet and conscientious objector
* Charles Peterson--Holyoke Community College student brutalized at a peaceful counter-recruitment protest on campus this semester
* Peter Camejo--Green Party leader
* Fernando Suarez del Solar—Gold Star Family member
* Zeina Zaatari--National Council of Arab-Americans
* Arlene Inouye, Kevin Ramirez, Rick Jahnkow, Company of Prophets, Dangerous Minds, youth poets, eyewitnesses from the "Relief Not War" caravans to New Orleans, tons of college and high school students opposing recruiters at their schools, and many more...

The more the military lies, the more people die .

We say enough!

( Read more... )

Here is a report from a witness:
James York shire327@yahoo.com


"I was at protest that kicked the recruiters off HCC,
here is my quick summary of events:


About 50 or so activist organized by the AWC (anti-war
coalition; CAN chapter on HCC) gathered to protest
militarty recruiters. Chants money for jobs and
education/not for war and occcupation, Relief not War,
college not combat attracked many people passing by.( Read more... )

The Speech Everyone Is Talking About: Etan Thomas
Etan Thomas Electrifies Anti-War Washington

by Dave Zirin

Every generation the wide world of corporate sports produces an athlete with the iron resolve and moral urgency to step off their pedestal and join the fight for social justice. A century ago, it was boxer Jack Johnson, flaunting, as WEB DuBois put it, "his unforgivable blackness." In the 1930s, "the Brown Bomber" Joe Louis and track star Jesse Owens took turns spitting in Hitler's eyes, and Mildred Babe Didrikson continued to show that a woman could be the equal - if not superior – of any man. In the 1940s and 50s, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, and the Brooklyn Dodgers advanced the cause of civil rights through the transgressive act of the multi-racial double play. In the 1960s, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell, David Meggyesy, Tommie Smith, and John Carlos showed how mass struggle could ricochet into the world of sports with electric results. In the 1970s, Billie Jean King used a wicked forehand, and took to the streets, to demand equal rights for women, and Curt Flood showed the labor movement - and the bosses - how to go from crumbs to a bigger piece of the pie. In the 1980's Martina Navratilova came out of the closet and onto center court, with her girlfriend on her sinewy arm in plain view of all. ( Read more... )

George Galloway Statement: ‘Katrina shows there are two Americas’


The scenes from the stricken city almost defy belief. Many, many
thousands of people left to die in what is the richest, most powerful country
on earth.

This obscenity is as far from a natural disaster as George Bush and the
US elite are from the suffering masses of New Orleans.

The images of Bush luxuriating at his ranch and of his secretary of
state shopping for $7,000 shoes while disaster swamped the US Gulf Coast
will haunt this administration.

In the most terrible way imaginable they show to the whole world that
it is not only the lives of people in Baghdad, Fallujah and Palestine
that Bush holds cheap. It is also his own citizens — the black and poor
people left behind with no food, water or shelter. ( Read more... )

Anti-death penalty activist on bigotry in her hometown
“The racism I’ve seen in New Orleans”
September 9, 2005 | Page 9
http://www.socialistworker.org

MONIQUE MATTHEWS is the sister of exonerated death row prisoner Ryan Matthews. Arrested at age 17 for a crime he didn’t commit and convicted in a two-day trial riddled with racism, Ryan was finally released from Louisiana’s death row in June 2004. Monique and her mother, Pauline, became outspoken fighters for justice on Ryan’s behalf and are active in the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.

Monique, Pauline and their family evacuated their New Orleans home on Sunday, the day before Hurricane Katrina struck, and made it safely to Chattanooga, Tenn. Ryan evacuated to Baton Rogue, La. Socialist Worker’s LEE WENGRAF spoke to Monique about their ordeal, and about the city’s legacy of racism.( Read more... )

Hurricane Katrina-Our Experiences

Larry Bradshaw
Lorrie Beth Slonsky

Two days after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, the Walgreen's store at
the corner of Royal and Iberville streets remained locked. The dairy display
case was clearly visible through the widows. It was now 48 hours without
electricity, running water, plumbing. The milk, yogurt, and cheeses were beginning
to spoil in the 90-degree heat. The owners and managers had locked up the
food, water, pampers, and prescriptions and fled the City. Outside Walgreen's
windows, residents and tourists grew increasingly thirsty and hungry.

The much-promised federal, state and local aid never materialized and the
windows at Walgreen's gave way to the looters. There was an alternative. The
cops could have broken one small window and distributed the nuts, fruit juices,
and bottle water in an organized and systematic manner. But they did not.
Instead they spent hours playing cat and mouse, temporarily chasing away the
looters. ( Read more... )

For Immediate Release August 21, 2005

Contact: David Meieran, 412-996-4986
Nathan Shaffer, 412-720-9276

PITTSBURGH POLICE ATTACK NON-VIOLENT PROTESTORS WITH TASERS,
PEPPER SPRAY AND K-9 UNITS
Counter-Recruitment Demonstration Ends in Five Arrests and Two Hospitalizations

Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Police Department displayed an excessive use of
force at a demonstration yesterday outside a military recruitment station
located near the University of Pittsburgh. Five were arrested, two were
hospitalized and several others received injuries as a result of police
unwarranted use of Tasers, pepper spray, retracting batons and K-9 units. Two
others were issued citations when they complained about police misconduct.( Read more... )